The Sample Seed Shop

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Biennials are offered on the Buy Biennial Seed page.
Annuals and Tender Perennials(zone 7-11) are offered on the Buy Annual Seed page.
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Perennials offered on this page are cold hardy. I will write zones found from plant description sources, but I can not vouch from experience lower than zone 6. Also often times other winter conditions like poor drainage or attacks from evil rodents or deer can do more damage than actual cold! If you have experience in a colder zone with any of the plants listed, let me know.(I received a lovely letter from Ruby W. a zone 2/3(to -40) gardener with experience on a few genera and will add her info.) As stated on the General Info page, we recommend WSing(Winter Sowing) for germination of hardy perennials. Tom Clothier also has a great germination site

All flower photo thumbnails are clickable to enlarge.
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Recently Added ~ Campanula primulifolia, Campanula glomerata, Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)

On to to the shopping….
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Free seeds with every order!
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Alcea ficifolia (Figleaf Hollyhock) Short Pink Z4 hhPink
This old fashion heirloom hollyhock is a perennial kind. It grows only to about 4 feet the second year. In subsequent years it will get a bit taller to 6′ or so, but still needs no staking. It starts blooming with the Asiatic lilies and keeps on going all summer. Though it has no cultivar name, it is a keeper! Full sun. 50+ seeds for $1.
Sorry out of stock.
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Allium christophii aka A. albopilosum (Star of Persia)Z4 AllChr
The steely lavender blue flowers are small, but they are in large umbels 10″ so they make an impressive statement in late spring. Plants vary from 1-2′ tall and they go dormant after bloom. 50+ seeds for $1.

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Aquilegia (Columbine) Mckana Giant Mix Z3 AquMGM
Columbine is a shade garden favorite of mine. It blooms in late spring to early summer. The Mckana mix is a pretty assortment of colors and larger plants up to 30″. To see an assortment of photos on Dave’s GardenPlantFiles Click Here. 1955 AAS winner. 30 seeds for $1.50.

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Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift) ‘Splendens’ Z3 ArmSple
This little plant is perfect for the front of the border or rock garden. The grass-like foliage is evergreen. From it rises leafless stems with pink flower clusters atop them in late spring to early summer. (Please ignore the forget-me-not going to seed in the photo.) 30 seeds for $1.50.

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Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) Z3 AscIn
This is too pretty and tame of a flower to have weed in its name. It does not send runners all over like the common milkweed. It behave rather well, and it blooms in late summer when color is needed in the perennial border. It doesn’t need a swamp to thrive. If you have a full sun location that holds a moisture and many plants don’t do well in that spot, try this flower. N. American native. 25+ seeds for $1.

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Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) Z4(Z3 in drier locations) AscTub
This is another butterfly attracting milkweed. Mid to late summer blooming, it has bright orange flower heads. The plants are about 3′ tall and are reported to be drought tolerant. N. American native. 25+ seeds for $1.00.

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Aster Alpinus Mix Z3? AstAM
These little 6-12″ plants have flowers in blue, lavender, or white. The daisy type flowers are very showy for the plants small stature. Perfect for the rock garden or edge of a border. 50+ seeds for $1.50.

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Aster Azureus aka Symphyotrichum oolentangiensis(Sky Blue Aster) Z3 AsAzu
I love this aster. It has the prettiest light blue flowers in the fall. It doesn’t get too tall for me at about 2′, but I’ve read it can get to 3′. It has behaved well in my dry sun border. It is a N. American native. This perennial aster’s germination rate(as with many other asters) is normally lower than many other perennials at about 60% so sow more than needed. 150+ seeds for $1.25.

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Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrowleaf Balsam Root) Z3 BalSag
This western US native is a sunflower relative with bright yellow 3″ flowers. The leaves are large and arrowhead shaped. It needs full sun and good drainage. Like Baptisia, it develops a long tap root so it is best to decide where you want them. Also like baptisia it will take awhile to come into its own, but it is definitely worth the wait. Click Here for a page with description and good pic. It should be more well known. 30 seeds for $1.25.

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Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo)Z3 BapAu
This perennial is shrub like in proportion. I remember the first time I saw one on the Gardener’s Journal TV show (from Canada with host Kathy Renwald for those of who might remember that great show.) I was wowed just seeing it on TV! I knew I had to have one. This year it has received the recognition it deserves as the Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial of 2010.
It doesn’t sprout until quite late, so it is a good perennial for spring bulbs. From sprouting late it really puts on growth fast reaching about 4′ and is in bloom by late spring. Unlike some early bloomers, the foliage stays pretty all season. This plant likes full sun and poor soil. Too much fertilizer and it flops. Though a peony ring would help that problem. Baptisia makes a long tap root, and is difficult to move a few years down the road, so pick your spot well just as you would for a shrub. N. American native. 30+ seeds for $1.

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Brimeura amethystina aka Hyacinthus amethystinus (Alpine Hyacinth)Z5 BrimA
This tiny jewel of a plant is a late spring bloomer with true blue blooms. It needs good drainage. It goes dormant after bloom. Good for the Alpine/Rock garden. 25+ seeds for $1.50.

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Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower) Z3 CamGlo
First off my photo is terrible. The color is all wrong. It should be a darker violet blue. Next year I have to work on getting a decent pic. Now that that is out of the way, it is a strong growing bellflower and a clump of it looks really nice in the border. The flowers do cluster around the stems which grow to about two feet. It blooms late spring to early summer. 100+ seeds for $1.25.

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Campanula latifolia (Great Bellflower)Z3 maybe Z2 CamLat
I don’t know why this beauty isn’t more well known. It has large flowers and the stems are strong enough to support them. It blooms in late spring here. Like many campanulas, it likes well drained soil and partial shade. I have mine in a full sun border, but there is shading from a neighboring shrub so it doesn’t get the full brunt of the afternoon sun. It has never reseeded on me. I wish it would! Maybe in a shadier spot it would, but do not confuse this plant with any weedy species. 50+seeds for $1.

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Campanula persicifolia (Peach-leaf Bellflower) Z3 maybe Z2 CamPer
This bellflower has lance shaped basal leaves hence the nickname peach-leaf. From those leaves emerge flower stalks to 2 or 3 feet with good sized lavender blue flowers. Some people have written on garden sites that it is a self sowing nuisance, but I’ve never seen that, and I wonder if it is a mistaken identity with the weedy Campanula rapunculoides. Sun to part shade. 100+ seeds for $1.

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Campanula primulifolia (Spanish Bellflower) Z4 CamPri
The open star shaped blooms of this variety are so pretty with their dark eyes, definitely an ooh flower. The name primulifolia comes from the resemblance of the foliage to primula leaves. The flower stalks grow up about 1 1/2-2′. They bloom in summer. 50+ seeds for $2.00.

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Campanula rotundifolia ‘Olympica’(Harebell) Z3 maybe Z2 CamRot
This delightful plant is covered in small bells all summer long. For how it blooms, you would think it is an annual! I find it is better suited to full sun than many other campanulas. 100+ seed for $1.50.

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Catananche caerulea (Cupid’s Dart) Z4 CatCae
This plant has 2″ blooms on multiple stems that rise about 2′ from basal foliage in summer. It is a good “see through” plant for full sun. The flowers are also great for arrangements. 25+ seeds for $1.
Sorry out of stock until Fall 2010.
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Centaurea dealbata (Persian Cornflower) Z3 CenDeal
This basket flower is a great one for the full sun border. The leaves are ferny and the flowers are produced all summer long. It grows to about 2′ and will do well in poor soil. The name basket flower comes from the base of the flowers which looks like a woven basket. From top or bottom the flowers are very interesting to look at close up. This species is the well behaved cousin of some weedy relatives so don’t let the genus scare you off. 25 seeds for $1.25.

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Cerastium tomentosum (Snow In Summer) Z3 CerTom
This low growing sun lover has felt silver leaves that get covered in white blossom in late spring. So I’m not really sure where the common name came from! Even with this misnomer, it is a great plant for hot dry spots in the garden. Left to its own devices it will spread, but when encroached upon by other plants, it doesn’t travel. 50+ seeds for $1.00.

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Delphinium, Blue and Purple Mix DelMix
(Details to come.)
Available later in 2010.
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Dianthus Superbus (Fringed Pink) Z3 maybe Z2DiaSup
This superb dianthus species not only looks good, it smells great too. The plants are 12-18″ tall, good for the front of a sunny border. It is definitely an “ooh what is that?!” plant. It can flower its first year if started early. The color is variable by plant between white and dark pink. It is a short lived species so let seed drop or collect seed to sow to ensure new plants. 75+ seed for $1.25.

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Draba borealisZ3? DraB
This is a tiny plant for the rock garden or trough. Unlike many draba that bloom yellow, this one blooms white in spring. 25+ seed for $1.25.

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Dracocephalum ruyschianum ‘Blue Dragon’ (Siberian Dragon’s Head) Z4 DracoBluD
This is tough little plant good for the front of a full sun border or in a rock garden. It grows to about 1′ and the blue snapdragon-like flowers are very showy. The foliage is needle-like reminiscent of rosemary. It blooms in late spring/early summer. 50 seeds for $1.25.

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Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) ‘Bravado’ Z3 probably Z2 EchBrav
This purple coneflower variety boasts big 4-5″ blooms with petals that spread out from the center instead of hanging down giving the effect of rosy pink daisies. Plants grow about 3′ tall. Butterfly attractor. Full sun. Cultivar of a N. American native. 50 seeds for $1.25.

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Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower) ‘White Swan’ Z4 EchWS
This white cultivar of purple coneflower is a bit more restrained in growth and height. The bloom time and flower size are just as excellent as the common version. The flowers are 4-5″ and the plants average about 2′. The plants bloom from mid-summer through fall. Finches love the seeds. Full sun. Cultivar of a N. American native. 50 seeds for $1.25.

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Geranium pyrenaicum ‘Alba’ Z5 GerAl
This European species has delicate looking white flowers that float above very attractive foliage. The foliage like most geraniums stays that good looking all season. It is difficult to photograph white flowers even without a flash and on cloudy day. I took many pics trying to capture the beautiful faint veining but this photo will have to do for now. 15 seeds for $1.50.

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Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) Z3 GerSan
This is an old favorite of mine. It is one of the first perennials I ever bought, and the original plant is still going strong. It blooms in late spring, and looks great with blue iris. If sheared back, it will bloom again later. The finely cut foliage is attractive. Sun to part shade. 15 seeds for $1.50.

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Hemerocallis lilioasphedelus aka H. flava (Lemon Lily Daylily) Z3 HemMin
This species daylily is a welcome site in my garden every time it blooms. It starts blooming in May here! Some complain that it doesn’t bloom long enough, but to have those bright yellow blooms so early is wonderful. Another bonus is the flowers are scented with a lemon like fragrance. (Many new cultivars are completely devoid of scent.) The plants grow to 30″ for me. I’ve read they can get a bit bigger. Being a species, it does spread by short runners, but slowly, and it is easy to dig if you don’t like where it is growing. It definitely doesn’t have the habit of its cousin, H. fulva(ditch lily.) 10 seeds for $1.50. Limit one packet per customer.

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Hibiscus syriacus, White with Red Eye (Rose of Sharon) Z5 HibWWRE.
This listing is actually for a shrub. But it is an easy to grow from seed shrub. This pretty shrub comes true from seed having large white blooms and a deep red eye. It will eventually grow to about 8′ or so. Full sun. 25+ seed for $1.

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Hibiscus syriacus mixed colors (Rose of Sharon) Z5 HibMix
This is a mix of colors, pure white, lavender, white with red eye, etc. Full sun. 25+ seeds for $1.

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Knautia macedonia Z5 KnaM
I love this perennial, though I must admit I’ve had others not feel the same. It is another see through type plant, and it blooms all summer. It can looks a bit unkempt. I like that look. Finches like the seeds. Full Sun. 25+ seed for $1.

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Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy) aka Chrysanthemum x superbum Z4 LeuSup
This easy to grow perennial is a favorite of many including myself. It wasn’t always that way for me. I had them confused with Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) which though is pretty in bloom(the blooms are smaller too) is ratty looking once done and it seeds all over the place. Shasta Daisy has nice looking foliage and is not an invasive weed. Shasta Daisies grow 2-3′ tall and bloom in early summer. They as you can see by my photo look great with lilies. Some people have difficulties growing them and I believe it is due to acidic soil. Full sun. 100+ seeds for $1.00.

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Lupine, BlueZ4? LupB
I received this plant at least 5 years ago and unfortunately lost the tag. It is not the wild lupine I see in pics, but it does have the same perennial aspect as the wild being it comes back! Most lupines are very short lived perennials. I love them, but it is nice to have one return year after year. Lupines need good soil that doesn’t get bone dry in summer. Mulch helps, but this is one plant that I actually go over and water once in awhile in the dog days of summer. After blooming, the upper foliage will start to look ratty, don’t worry about it just cut it down to the better lower foliage. This is not a plant for the hot south. Full sun. 25+seed for $1.

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Lupine ‘Russell Mix’ (Lupinus polyphyllus) Z4 LupRMix
This is a wonderful mix of colors purple, red, yellow, pink, blue, etc. These kind of lupines need good soil that doesn’t get too dry during the summer. So planting where you mulch and can water if need be is best. They can be short lived, but will reseed(without being a nuisance.) These plants are not recommended for the deep south. 75 seeds for $1.25.

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Lychnis chalcedonica ‘Dusky Salmon’ Z4 LycDS
This is an unusual colored version of Maltese Cross. The flowers themselves though not really large grow together in clusters that can be 4′ across. The flowers start off a medium salmon color and fade to pink which creates a lovely effect. My plants grown in poor soil are about 2 1/2 -3′ tall. I ‘ve read they can grow to about 4′ and I suspect it is in better soil. Full sun. 50+ seed for $1.25.

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Lychnis coronaria aka Silene coronaria (Rose Campion) Z3 LycCor
This old time favorite sports bright magenta flowers above silver felty foliage. It is a short lived re-seeding perennial that grows to about 2 1/2 feet tall. It is pretty in a border, but it looks spectacular in a large clump if you have the room. Sun. 100+ seeds for $1.

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Lychnis coronaria alba (Rose Campion) White FormZ3 LyCorW
If the hot magenta of the better know version of Rose Campion is not your cup of tea, this might be. It blooms the same but in white and has the same silver felty foliage. Full Sun. 100+ seed for $1.

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Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin) Z4 LyFlos
Trying to get a good shot of this wild child of a perennial is tough! The “ragged” blooms move at the slightest breeze so it makes for blurry shots. Some may find this plant unkempt, but I personally find it delightfully exuberant. This plant will bloom from seed its first year so it will bloom later on that account, but normal bloom time starts in May. It grows to about 2′ or so. Full Sun. 100+ seeds for $1.25.

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Lychnis viscaria ‘Splendens Fire’ (German Catchfly) Z3 LycVis
This plant’s bright pink flowers are a stand out in the front of the late spring border. They bloom on short spikes about a foot tall. Full sun. 100+ seeds for $1.

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Lychnis ‘Lumina Bronze Leaf Red’ (Lychnis x haageana) Z5 maybe 4LycLBLR
This plant isn’t very well known, but I think it will be in the future. It from Benary(Photo is from the Benary site) the same company who develops Benary Zinnias. The short plants are good for the front of the border or rock garden. The foliage is a dark bronzy green and the flowers are a strong red. This plant blooms first year from seed so it can be treated as an annual. Lychnis are short lived perennials in general. 50+ seeds for 2.00.

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Malva alcea (Hollyhock Mallow) Z MalAlc
This perennial grows to shrub like proportions(up to 4′) and gets covered in pink flowers. It is very long blooming. Full Sun. 50 seeds for $1.00.

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Malva moschata alba (White Musk Mallow) Z4 MalAlb
This perennial is short lived lasting only a few years in the garden. It however is re-seeding so there is no fear of losing this plant. The seedlings are easily removed so I wouldn’t put it into the thug category of plants. The flowers run between 1-3 inches. The pale pink stigmas are what I find so attractive about these white blooms. 25+ seeds for $1.

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Malva sylvestris ‘Purple Romance’ Z5? MalPR
So I go to look up info on this variety I’ve been growing to offer for sale, and I can find no info! The name is either wrong, it or was once offered by a company and it no longer exists. I’m offering it anyway, because it is a fantastic purple! The photo is pretty, but really doesn’t show how gorgeous the color is in person. So even if the name is isn’t Purple Romance, it should be because it has wooed me. I think it will win others over too. It blooms the first year from seed. It is a short lived re-seeder. 25+ seed for $1.

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Malva sylvestris (French Hollyhock) ‘Zebrina’ Z5 MalZeb
This is another short lived re-seeding perennial. It is a popular cottage garden plant. I didn’t think much of it from pics, but seeing the blooms in person just wowed me. It grows 2-3′ tall and is covered in blooms all summer. 25+ seeds for $1.
Sorry, out of stock.
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Ornithogalum magnum Z5 OrnMag
Don’t let the name of Ornithogalum scare you. It is from the same family as the dreaded Star of Bethlehem and it has white star shaped blooms, but the similarity ends there. This is a late spring bloomer that makes a statement in the flower border. It grows to about three feet high, and the plant blooms for weeks. It can reseed, but not with the evil intentions of it’s cousin. If you don’t want reseeding though, the large scapes are easily cut off long before the seeds mature. Sun to part shade. 50 seeds for $1.25.

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Papaver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy) ‘Gartford Giants’ Z3 PapNudGG
This mix grows to 30 inches. The delicate crepe paper looking flowers come in colors ranging from white, yellow, apricot and orange. Flower are up to 4″ in size. These poppies need good drainage to be happy. They are first year flowering and can be treated as an annual. They can be short lived as a perennial, but they will reseed. 100+ seeds for $1.25.

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Papaver orientale  MIx (Poppy, perennial) Z3 PapOMix
This mix covers the red hue color range that oriental poppies normally come in from orange, red, salmon rose & scarlet. Oriental poppies like good drainage in full sun to do best. They also do well in poor soil. Too rich of a soil may cause flopping. Late spring/early summer blooming. The foliage reminiscent of a thistle disappears after blooming and will reappear in the fall. So plant near where a late bloomer will grow to cover the bare spot. 100 seeds for $1.00.

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Papaver orientale (Poppy, perennial) ‘Princess Victoria Louise’ Z3 maybe Z2PapPVL
This is a great plant for full sun, and it thrives even in horrible dry soil. Too much fertilizer or shade will make the blooms flop over. The blooms are huge, and they are a salmon pink. Depending on the weather the color varies. Perennial Poppies go dormant after blooming like spring bulbs so placement near perennials that are late to grow summer bloomers is important. Grow to about 2 1/2 foot tall. 100 seeds for $1.25.
Sorry out of stock. I was planning on having this back in stock, but Mother Nature played a trick on the PLV poppies this year. The weather, though mostly wonderful this year, was horrible while the PVL poppies bloomed, and as a result, when I harvested the seed pods, I found mostly small non-viable seed. So there is not enough to offer for sale. If I happen to find them wholesale, I’ll offer them, but otherwise, I’ll have to wait until 2011 harvest.
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Penstemon cyananthus (Wasatch Penstemon) Z4 PenCyan
This is a gorgeous blue flowered western US native. It blooms in late spring with flower spikes that rise up 1-3′. It needs full sun and good drainage to do well. I’m not sure of how tolerant it would be of higher rainfall areas. A raised bed on the south side of a home would be recommended to give this one a go in those areas. This has a low germination rate so I’m making the seed count higher to ensure your success. 200+ seed for $1.25.

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Penstemon palmeri (Pink Wild Snapdragon aka Scented Penstemon aka Palmer’s Penstemon) Z4 PenPal
This penstemon with its big pastel pink flowers is quite the looker. Plus the flowers are fragrant. It grows to 4′ or so. It is very drought tolerant, needs lean, sandy/gritty, well-drained soil, and can not be grown in places with lots of rainfall. For questionable areas(maybe just a bit too much rain to its liking) a raised bed on the south side of a home would be a good place to try this beauty. 50 seeds for $1.50.

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Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain Penstemon) Z4 maybe 3 PenStr
This is a good penstemon for many parts of the country. It needs good drainage and full sun, but can withstand some moisture if a season ends up being rainy. It blooms late spring/early summer. The flowers are a beautiful blue and violet combo. The photo does not do the color justice. It grows to about 2′ here, but can grow taller. When happy it clumps up, but can be short lived so best to leave some flower stalks for re-seeding. 50+ seeds for $1.

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Phlox paniculata ‘New Hybrids Mix’ F1 Z3 maybe Z2 PhlNHM
This is not some cheap, saved from the garden, phlox mix. These are hybrid seed made to produce flowers in the whole spectrum that exist in phlox, pink, red, lavender, white, bi-colors, etc. The plants bloom in late summer just when a perennial garden needs a good boost. Blooms appear in large beautiful panicles and are fragrant. Full Sun. 10 seeds for $1.50.

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Physostegia virginiana ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Obedient Plant) Z3 PhyVari
Obedient plant is often not very obedient trying to bully out its neighbors, but I’ve found the variegated form to be much tamer. Watch me curse the day I typed that, lol, but it has been much slower growing than the regular, and I wish it would actually fill out faster. In general variegated forms of plants are not as vigorous as their regular counterparts. This plant is very attractive in the late summer border growing to 2-3′ tall with pink spires of flowers. This plant does come true from seed, but if an appearance of a green seedling or two appears, just rogue them out. Full Sun. N. American native. 25+ seed for $1.50.
Sorry out of stock until Fall 2010.
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Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant aka False Dragonhead) Z3 PhyVir
The regular pink obedient plant is not always so obedient. It spreads fairly fast. It either needs to be in a spot in the border that is easily managed or put out in a thug border. Thug borders can be great! I have one out behind the garage where I don’t go very often. Plants that need no care and don’t mind brushing shoulders with their neighbors are good candidates for those poorly maintained areas. Full Sun. N. American native. 25+ seeds for $1.

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Ratibida pinnata (Gray-headed Coneflower aka Yellow Coneflower) Z3RatPin
This N. American native plant is quite showy with its pleasing yellow blooms. Growing to about 4′ or so, the flower with their petals hang down giving the appearance of shuttlecocks in flight. To see photos on Dave’s Garden PlantFiles, Click Here. For full sun. 100 seeds for $1.00.

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Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (Black Eyed Susan) Z4 maybe Z3 RuGold
This true perennial rudbeckia is a gold storm blooming profusely from mid-summer until frost. It will form a good sized clump and slowly keep going unless dug back every spring to keep it within its allotted space. Otherwise it is a very carefree plant. It grows 2-3 tall. Full sun. 50+ seeds for $1.

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Other Rudbeckias can be found on the Buy Annual Seed page.
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Salvia Azurea Z4? SalAz
This plant has spires of sky blue flowers in late summer. It grows easily in well drain soil in full sun. It is a beauty that should be more well known especially since it is native to N. America. It grow 3-5′ tall. 25+ seeds for $1.50.

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Salvia pratensis, White (Meadow Clary or Meadow Sage) Z3 SalPraW
This summer bloomer has long racemes of white flowers that rise from rosettes of basal foliage. The plants average 2-3 feet, but can get taller. The leaves are long with scalloped edges. They have the scent of culinary sage. It needs good drainage, but can handle clay. It is a good plant for the dry summer border. Full sun. 25+ seeds for $1.

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Salvia regeliana Z? SalReg
This salvia grow 2-3′ tall with long purple-blue spikes of flowers. It blooms a long time even without deadheading. Like many other salvias it can be a prolific reseeder so cut spent flower stalks to minimize this. Of course left to reseed and make a big patch of color in the garden is a pretty option. I can’t find info on how hardy this plant truly is. It seems to be much more popular over in Europe. Its origins are in the Caucasus region.
25+ seed for $1.

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Saponaria officinalis (Bouncing Bet aka Soapwort) Z5 SapO
This is an old fashioned cottage garden plant probably because of its vigor. Some people love it for it profuse bloom being easy to grow, others think it is invasive. I wouldn’t recommend for the regimented gardener. It maybe have like a biennial in Z4-2. Full sun to part shade. 50+ seeds for $1.

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Saxifraga ardensii (Mossy Saxifrage) ‘Purple Robe’ Z4 SaxPR
I grew this plant from seeds by winter sowing a few years ago. It has very pretty leaves that grow in a little mound. From them rises short leafless stems that are topped with what I would consider more rosy red than purple flowers. It likes part shade and moist, but well drained soil similar conditions to most campanulas like. Great for the rock garden. They do not like competition. So do not plant near a plant that will cover it. 50+ seeds for $1.25.

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Scabiosa ochroleuca (Yellow Scabiosa) Z4 ScabO
The name says yellow, but really it should say cream. Scabiosa is often called pin cushion flower because the blooms look like little pin cushions that are on long stems. Scabiosa needs good drainage to over winter, and some people hate to spend money on plants that don’t return. This is the great thing about seeds, you can plant in a few spots like I did until you hit paydirt! Full sun. 25+ seeds for $1.
Sorry, out of stock.
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Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks aka Houseleeks) Mix Z4 Semps
I just love hens and chicks for their ease of care. They need nothing but good drainage and full sun. They can survive on almost no water like in the watering can planter shown in the photo. They are hardy enough to live through the winter in little containers like that too. Ruth W. of Z 3/2 states they will not overwinter for her. She does get a lot snow, so I think they are unhappy in that environment. Possibly in a dry Z3 they will survive. 100 seeds for $1.50.

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Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue Eyed Grass) Z? SisB
I adore this little cutie growing about 6″ tall or so with violet blue star shaped flowers. It blooms in late spring. This variety is more delicate looking than the regular variety, S. augustifolium. I purchased this plant from a rock garden/alpine nursery and supposedly it is not hardy, but it has been hardy for me. Sisyrinchium is an iris relative and needs good drainage. I found it to be drought tolerant. It also will reseed, but not invasively and they are easy to remove if they end up where you don’t want them. Full sun. N. American native. 25+ seeds for $1.50.

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Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (Gooseberryleaf Globemallow) Z3 SphGro
This western North America native is excellent for dry sites. In more eastern locations it would need a raised dry bed or along the south side of a building like where not much wants to grow.The coral colored flowers are very attractive running along the stems that rise to 2′. 75+ seeds for $1.00.

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Stachys monieri, Pink and Purple Mix(Betony) Z4 StaMon
These plants are small with good all season foliage making them excellent for the edge of a border. The small dark green leaves have a scalloped edge. From them arises bottle brush type flowers in midsummer. Full sun. 25+ seeds for $1.25.

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Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear) Z4 StaByz
This is the well known plant for sunny borders. The fuzzy silver leaves are very attractive. Some people do not like the flower spikes with their small purple flowers, but they can easily be cut if you don’t like them. I somehow don’t have a pic of just the lamb’s ear, but at least I found a couple of my rose pics with some showing. 50 seed for $1.

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Succisa pratensis (Devil’s Bit Scabiosa) Z4 SucP.
This plant should be better known. From a basal rosette of long leaves rises wiry stems(2-5′) with lavender flowers atop of them in late summer. The stems are windproof! I’ve read it is a lime lover, but it seems to do fine in average garden soil. Finches love the seeds. This plant likes full sun and good drainage. I found out form a MN gardening friend that this plant grows in her Z4 garden so it is very hardy. 25+ seeds for $1.50.

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Thalictrum aquilegifolium (Meadow Rue) Z4 ThaAqu
This is a wonderful tall plant for the full sun to part shade border that doesn’t dry out too much during summer. The leaves are very attractive, similar to columbine leaves. The plants grow 3-4′ tall and are topped with fluffy lavender pink flowers in late spring. To see photos on Dave’s Garden PlantFiles Click Here. 50 seeds for $1.75.

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Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) Z3 VerH
This short lived re-seeder is great for attracts butterflies. It is a good plant for a large mixed border or wild meadow. It blooms from candelabra type spires for a long time from mid-summer until fall. The lavender blue blooms are not overly show though so it is a supporting actor to bigger late summer blooms. This plant can vary in size, but can grow to about 6′. Supposedly it only likes moist soil, but I’ve found it to grow in regular garden soil just fine. Native to N. America. Full Sun. 50+ seeds for $1.

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Veronica gentianoides Z4 VeroGen
This plant forms attactive small clumps of smooth green basal foliage. In spring delicate spires of pale icy blue flowers appear. It is great plant for the front of a border. Full sun.  20 seeds for $2. Limit 2 pkts. per order.

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Veronica spicata ‘Sightseeing Mix’ Z3 VerSMix
For me veronicas are easy to grow, drought tolerant, full sun perennials. The spicata types also bloom for a long time, longer than many other perennials. They grow a little over 2′ tall. 30 seeds for $1.50.

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Veronicastrum virginicum White Form (Culver’s Root) Z3 VerVig
This veronica relative is impressive in the summer border. The plants grow to 5-6 feet and have candelabra type flowers in white. It is know for the moist border, but it can grow just fine in a dry(clay) border as I have it. I originally winter sowed the seeds for this plant. In the dry border it took awhile to come into its own, but it was worth the wait. In a moister area I’m sure it would of grown faster. The foliage of this N. American native is pretty. The leaves are rugose and grow in whorls around the stems. They stay attractive all season. 100+ seed for $1.50.

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Viola ‘King Henry’ can be found on the Buy Annual Seed page.
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I Need Them Now! INTN
This is for the gardener who has procrastinated and is way behind schedule, or perhaps it is for the OCD person who needs to have them in their hands to obsess over until planting time. Whatever the cause, we will ship ASAP with Priority with this $3.00 additional charge. See the General Info Page for more details.Please only click this button once, not one on every page you buy from!

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More great perennials added as they become available so check back again soon.
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Free seeds with every order!